Hay-stacker.



W. G. DU'FFIELD.

HAY STACKER.

APPLICATION FILED on. 2. ms.

Patented July 10, 1917.

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W. G. DUFFIELD.

HAY STACKER. APPLICATION FILED OCT. 2 I915 'w. e. DUFFIELD.

HAY STACKER. APPLICATION FILED ocr. 2. 19 1s.

Patented July 10, 1917.

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W. G. DUFFiELD.

Patented July 10, 1917.

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v WAYNE G. DUFFIELD, 10F MOLINE, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR [1.0 DAIN MANUFACTURING COlVIPA NY OF'IOWA, .OF O'ITUMWA, IOWA, A CORPORATION OF IOWA.

HAY-STACKER.

Application filed October 2, 1915.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WAYNE G. DUFFIELD, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Moline, in the county of Rock Island and State ofIllinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hay- Stackers, of which the following is a peci- 'fication, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to hay stackers of the general type shown and described in Letters Patent to Joseph Dain, Jr., No. 608,658, granted August 9, 1898, in which the stacking is accomplished by means of a swinging carrier-frame having a head on which the hay to be stacked is deposited, usually by means of a sweep-rake, the carrier-frame being swung from its leading position, at which time the head is resting on the ground, to a vertical, or substantially vertical, position by power applied to said frame through suitable lever mechanism actuated by a hoisting rope or cable. The stacker is anchored to the ground adjacent to the place where the stack is to be built and in such position that when the carrierframe is elevated to its discharging position the hay will be thrown flOni the head and fall upon the stack being built. It will be apparent that as the stack grows its height will gradually approach that of the delivery position of the stacker-head, and the practical utility of the stacker is limited by the delivery height of the stackerhcad, as when the stack exceeds that height the stacker cannot properly discharge its load. In order to make practicable the use of such stackers in building comparatively high stacks, it has heretofore been proposed to make the carrier-frame extensible, thereby raising the delivery height of its load when that becomes necessary for its efficient operation, since it is undesirable to make the carrier-frame permanently of extreme length owing to the greater power then required for operating it; but stackers having such extensible carrier-frames have been so constructed that the extension of the frame was made by hand and was more or less a tedious operation, so that with such stackers it was impracticable to make repeated short extensions as is desirable to avoid increasing the power necessary more than as required by the gradual growth of the stack, and it is Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 10, 1917.

Serial No. 53,703.

therefore highly desirable that a stacker be provided in which the carrier frame will be extended by a comparatively slight amount at comparatively short intervals, corresponding with the growth of the stack, so that the increment in the power necessary to operate it will substantially correspond in rate with the rate of growth of the stack. It is also very desirable that this gradual extension of the carrier-frame or, in other words, the delivery height of the stackerzhead be accomplished automatically, thereby saving the time and labor of the operator. A further desirable improvement is that the adjustment of the delivery height desirable improvements, and they, broadly,

constitute the principal features of my 1nvention, which, however, also includes the specific mechanism by which such improvements are embodied in practical form.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated my improvements as applied to a stacker having the general construction shown and described in said Dain Patent No. 608,653, but it will be understood that, generically considered, they may also be applied to other stackers of the type employing a swinging carrier-frame, but in which the power-transmitting mechanism is different.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a stacker embodying my improvements, showing the carrier-frame in its loading position;

Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a side view thereof, showing the carrienframe and stacker-head in the'delivery position;

Fig. t is a partial transverse vertical section on line l4: of Fig. 7

Fig. 5 is a cross-section on line 55 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 6 is an elevation of the rear portion of the stacker;

Fig. 7 is a cross-section on line 77 of Fig.2, certain parts belng broken away, the delivery position of the carr1er-frame bemg shown in dotted lines;

Fig. 8 is a cross-section on line 8-8 of i Fig. 2; and

Fig. 9 is a cross section on line 99 of Fig. 8.

Referring now to the drawings,as is best shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the operating parts of the stacker are mounted on a base comprising longitudinally-extending sills 1 spaced'apart and connected by a rear crossmember2, acenter cross-member 3, and a front cross-member l,for the purpose of this description, that end of the stacker at which the hay is delivered to the stackerhead being i regarded as the front thereof.

Mounted upon the front cross-member 4, which is preferably of tubular steel and forms an axle, are Wheels which facilitate transportation of-the stacker. The opposite end of the base is supported on caster runners6, as shown in said figures. The

erably of inverted V-shape, said levers being connected by a bar 13, and being pivoted at their lower ends upon the base, the lever 11 being preferably pivoted upon the front crossmember i and the lever 12 upon the uprights 7 14 indicates a hoisting rope or cable which is fastened. to a clevis 15 connectedwith the lifting-lever 11 and is threaded to pass over a pulley 16 mounted upon the rear cross-member 2, thence passing upwardaround a pulley 17 at the upper end portion of the lifting-lever 11, and

*- thence downward around a swivel-pulley 18 carried by the cross-member 2,as best shown in Fig. 1. 19 indicates a connection by which the lifting-lever mechanism is connected to the carrier or lifting frame of the stacker. This carrier-frame, which will be more specifically described hereinafter, gen erally speaking comprises a stacker-head which is extensibly mounted upon swinging arms pivotally mounted upon the base, as

best shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. These arms 20 are pivoted upon bearings 21 provided at opposite end portions of a shaft 22, which is preferably carried by the rear cross-member 2, as shown in Figs. 3 and 6, said shaft eX tending across the base in spaced relation to and parallel with said cross-member, being supported in brackets 23 carried thereby. The forward ends of the arms 20 are connected by a cross-bar 24, as shown in Fig. 2.

A represents the stacker-head, which is slidably supported by the arms 20 by means of bars 25, being adjustably connected therewith by clips 26-2728 which embrace the arms 20, as shown in Fig. 3. The size of such clips is, of course, such as to permit them to slide freely along the arms 20 when force is applied to the bars 25, as hereinafter described. The bars are supported by and move freely through clips 29 secured to the cross-bar 24, as shown in Fig. 3. 30 indicates braces, which are connected with the bars 25 and with the stacker-head A, as shown in Fig. 2, for supporting the same.

The stacker -head, in the construction shown, is composed of cross-bars 31-32 secured to the bars 25 and braces 30, main teeth secured to said cross-bars, and pitcher-teeth 34 pivotally secured to the main teeth 33, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The pitcher-teeth 34 are connected together by a cross-bar 35 and may be adjusted angularly relative to the main teeth by a rod-andstrapadjusting-device 36, shown in Fig. 1.

For the purpose of limiting the extent to which the carrier-frame may be swung in discharging its load, ropes 37 or other tlexible connections, are provided which, at their upper ends, are secured to the lifting frame, their lower ends being connected to members 38 mounted to slide upon the struts 8) against the action of eusl1io11ing-s n'.ings 39 which are also mounted upon said struts. The result is that when the carrier-fraims reaches a vertical or substantially vertical position, the springs 39 are compressed by the movement of the members 38 upon the struts 9, thereby cushioning and stopping the movement of the carrier-frame. The adjustment of these parts is ordinarily such as to permit the carrier-frame to move slightly beyond a vertical position. The expansion of the cushioningsprings after compression also serves to start the carrierframe on its return movement, throwing it beyond its vertical position, so that it will return by its own weight to its horizontal or loading position.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that the retracted position ol the stacker-head represents the initial height of delivery of its load, and that when the stack is built to a height corresponding to the initial height of discharge of the stackerhead, it becomes necessary to extend the operative length of the carrier-frame in order to raise the discharge point of the head, and this, as has been indicated, is automatically accomplished intermittently as the growth of the stack makes necessary. The mechanism provided for this purpose will now be described. 40 indicates members, in the form of sleeves, which are mounted upon the outer portions of the shaft 22 adjacent to the bearings 21 thereof, as best shown in Fig. fir, and are provided with ratchet-teeth 41 adapted to coiiperate with spring-retained dogs 42 which are supported by the brackets 23; the whole comprising ratchet mechanism which, in the organization of the machine is so arranged as to permit rotary movement of the members 40 in one direction and hold them against rotation in the opposite direction. In the illustration of Fig. 5, clockwise movement of the member 40 is prevented and contra-clockwise movement thereof permitted. 43 indicates sprocket-wheels which are secured to or made integral with the ratchet-members 40, as best shown in Fig. 4. 53 indicates springs attached. to the brackets 23 adjacent to the two dogs 42, respectively, which springs serve to hold said dogs in position to engage the ratchet-teeth 41. In the construction shown, the dogs 42 are secured to a crossshaft 54 which is supported in the brackets 23 and is provided with a lever whereby it can be rocked to simultaneously shift the dogs into inoperative or reverse position, where they rest against stops 56, shown in Fig. 5, formed on the brackets 23, and are held out of engagement with the ratchetteeth 41 by the tension of said springs. The object of providing for disconnecting the dogs 42 from the ratchetteeth 41 and holding them out of operative position, is to make it possible for the operator to conveniently connect or disconnect the automatic adjusting mechanism at will, as hereinafter set forth.

As best shown in Figs. 3 and 7, the sprocket-wheels 43 are connected by linkbelts 44, or equivalent means, with similar sprocket-wheels 45 carried by the arms 20 of the lifting frame. The sprocket-wheels 45 have members or hubs 46, which are preferably integral therewith, and are provided with ratchet-teeth 47 adapted to cooperate with spring-retained dogs 48 carried by the arms 20; the whole comprising ratchet mechani sm which permits rotation in one direction of the sprocket-wheels 45. The construction of these parts is best shown in Figs. 8 and 9, and in the illustration of the latter figure the dog 48 permits contra-clockwise rotation of the member 46, but prevents rotation in the opposite direction. As best shown in Fig. 8, the sprocket-wheels 45 are fixed upon short shafts 49 mounted in bearings 50 in the arms 20, and the opposite ends of the shafts 49 carry pinions 51 which are adapted to mesh with racks 52 bolted, or otherwise secured, to the sides of the bars 25, as shown in Fig. 3. The shafts 49 may be formed integral with the sprockets 45 or with the pinions 51, but I prefer a construction wherein both are pinned or keyed to said shaft. The dogs 48 are also arranged to be moved out of operative relation with their respective members 46, to which end, as

" shown in Fig. 9, they are pivoted upon bearings 57 carried by the arms 20. Springs 58, which are attached to said arms and are connected with said dogs, normally hold them in position to engage the ratchet-teeth 47. An extension 59 is formed integral with each dog 48 and forms a lever for readily disconnecting said dogs from the ratchetteeth of the members 46, when desired. When the levers 59 are thrown forward, the dogs 48 are rocked against a stop 60 pro vided on each arm 20 and are there held by the tension of their respective springs 58. The object of providing means for moving the dogs 48 into inoperative position is to permit the stacker-head to be readily retracted or returned to its initial position with reference to the carrier-frame, so that it will deliver its load at the lowermost point.

The operation of my improved stacker is as follows: Assuming that the stack has been built to such a height that the stackerhead needs to be elevated so as to discharge at a greater height, the operator moves the lever 55 into the position shown in Fig. 5, so that the dogs 42 engage their respective ratchet members 40, and also moves the levers 59 so that the dogs 48 engage their respective ratchet members 46, these parts being then in the position shown in Figs. 5 and 9, respectively. When draft is applied to the hoisting means, the stacker will be swung upward in the manner illustrated in Fig. 8, and through the medium of the chains 44 cause the ratchet members 40 to rotate far enough to carry a single tooth 41 past the dogs 42, respectively. When the carrier-frame reaches the limit of its upward movement and the load is delivered, the springs 39 cause said frame to rebound, and as it descends the chain 44, traveling over the sprocket-wheels 43, which are now held against rotation in a clockwise direction by the dogs 42 through their engagement with the ratchet member 40, will cause the sprocket-wheels 45 to rotate and with it the pinions 51, and they, through their engagement with the racks 52, will cause the bars 25 which carry the stackerhead to travel outward, i. e. away from the pivot-pins 21. It will be apparent, therefore, that the stacker-head will be projected to a limited extent upon each reverse or downward movement of the carrier-frame,

but will not be projected during the upward movement thereof. The extent to which the stacker-head is projected upon each intermittent operation of the projecting mechanism may be varied by changing the gearing so that a given movement of the i sprocket-wheels 43 imparts a greater or less movement to the stacker-head, but ordinarily it is sufficient to so proportion the parts that the stacker-head will be given a stepby-step outward movement corresponding with the increase in the height of an average-slze stack by the discharge thereupon of an averagesize load. The stacker-head A and bars are locked against backward movement while the load is being lifted by reason of the fact that the dogs 4C8 engage the ratchet-teeth 47 and prevent the 'pimons '51 from being rotated reversely by the prescure of the racks 52. When the stack has to return to its initial position on' the carrier-frame, and the lever is also operated a to move the dogs 42 out of operative position and prevent the automatic extension of the stacker-head until the time when such extension becomes necessary- Of course, the

operator may throw the automatic extending mechanism out of operation for a greater or less length of time, at will, by means of I. the lever 55.

,I am aware that it has heretofore been proposed to construct hay stackers so that the hay-carryinghead is automatically projected while it is being carried up to its discharging position and is immediately retracted as it approaches its loading position, such projection and retraction being invariable incidents of the swinging of the carrier-frame or support and being for the purpose of reducing the power necessary to start the lifting of the carrier-frame; Such stackers, however, operate on an entirely different principle from mine, as they do not contemplate variation of the height of the discharge point of the stacker-head, but invariably discharge the load at the same height unless adjusted by hand before the lifting operation is commenced. So far as I am aware, I am the first in the art to provide for progressively varying the delivery height of a stacker-head or stacker; also to provide for accomplishingthis result automatically; and also to provide for extending the stacker-head on the return or clownward movement of the carrier-frame. My

invention is therefore generic in character,

andthe claims hereinafter made are to be construed accordingly.

That which I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is,

1, A hay-stacker, comprising a stackerhead, a movable support therefor, means for raising said head from loading to delivery position, and means operated by movement of said support for varying the height of the delivery position of said head.

2. A hay-stacker, comprising a. stackerhead, means for raising said head from loading to delivery position, and means for automatically varying the height of the delivery position of said head.

3. A hay-stacker, comprising a stacker head, means for. raising said head from loading to delivery position, and automatic means for progressively varying the height of the delivery position of said head.

4:. A hay-stacker, comprising a stacken head, a movable support therefor, means for raising said head from loading to delivery position, and means operated by movement of said support for progressively varying the height of the delivery position of said head.

5. A hay-stacker, comprising a staclrerhead, means for raising said head from loading to delivery position, and means for automatically varying the position of said head during the downward movement thereof, to vary the height of the delivery position of said head.

6. A hay-stacker, comprising a stackerhead, means for raising said head from lead ing to delivery position, and automatic means for progressively varying the position of said head during the downward movement thereof, to vary the height of the V delivery position of said head.

7. A hay-stacker, comprising a stackerhead, means for raising said head. from loading to delivery position, automatic means for varying the height of the delivery position of said head, and means for suspending the operation of said automatic means.

8. A hay-stacker, comprising a stackerhead, means for raising said headv from leading to delivery position, automatic means for progressively varying the height of the delivery position of said head,,and means for suspending the operation of said automatic means.

9. A hay-stacker, comprising a swinging carrier-frame, a stacker-head adjustable toward and from the axis of said carrierframe, 'means for swinging said carrierframe to move the stacker-head from leading to delivery position, and means operated by movement of said carrier-frame for varying the height of the delivery position of said head.

10. A hay-stacker, comprising a swinging carrier-frame, a stacker-head adjustable toward and from the axis of said carrierframe, means for swinging said carrierframe to move the stacker-head from loading to delivery position, and means for automatically varying the height of the delivery position of said head.

11. A hay-stacker, comprising a swinging carrier-frame, a stacker-head adjustable toward and from the axis of said carrierframe, means for swinging said carrierframe to move the stacker-head from loading to delivery position, and automatic means for progressively varying the height of the delivery position of said head.

12. A hay-stacl er, comprising a swinging carrier-frame, a stacker-head carried by said frame and adjustable toward and from the axis thereof, means for swinging said frame to move said head. from loading to delivery position, and means for automatically moving said head away from the axis of the carrier-frame upon the downward movement of said frame.

13. A hay-stackcr, comprising a swinging carrier-frame, a stackenhead carried by said frame and adjustable toward and from the axis thereof, means for swinging said frame to move said head from loading to delivery position, and automatic 'means for progressively moving said head away from the axis of the carrier-frame during the downward movement of said frame.

14-. A hay-stacker, comprising a swinging carrier-frame, a stacker-head carried by said frame and adjustable toward and from the axis thereof, means for swinging said frame to move said head from loading to delivery position, automatic means for progressively moving said head away from the axis of the carrier-frame during the downward movement of said frame, and means for suspending the operation of said automatic means.

15. A hay-stacker, comprising a swinging carrier-frame, a stacker-head carried there by and adjustable toward and from the axis thereof, means for automatically moving said stacker-head away from the axis of said carrier-frame on the downward move ment there-of, and means for preventing reverse movement of the stackenhead during the upward movement of said carrier-frame.

16. A hay-stacker, comprising a swinging carrier-frame, a SiJELOkQl'dlGMJl mounted there on and movable toward and from the axis thereof, ratchet mechanism for moving said stackerhead away from the axis of said frame, and means operated by the swinging of the carrier-frame for automatically actuating said ratchet mechanism.

17. A hay-stacker, comprising a swinging carrier-frame, a stacker-head mounted thereon and movable toward and from the axis thereof, ratchet mechanism for moving said stackenhead away from the axis of said frame, and means operated by the swinging of the carrier-frame for automatically actuating said ratchet mechanism on the downward movement of the carrier-frame.

WAYNE Gr. DUFFIELD.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, I). G. 

